“Very well,” he muttered, doing his best to understand, rather than let his irritation overpower him. “But all the same, I think the idea is a good one.”
“I think it is also. I simply do not want to be the first to step out with her.”
The memory of Lady Hastings speaking so cruelly, and the icy looks she had given to Lady Grant sent a whirlwind tearing through Hugh. With a sudden resolve, he lifted his head and looked directly across the room to where Miss Simmons was standing.
“Very well,” he declared, his hands curling into tight fists. “If you do not wish to be the first to dance with the lady, thenIshall be.” Without so much as a glance in Lord Elmsford’s direction, Hugh walked towards the lady, his determination growing with every step. Whatever dance came next, he would lead Miss Simmons out to the dance floor and, from there, dance with her in full view of all of the other guests.
He only hoped that she would agree.
Chapter Four
“You spoke with him?”
Rachael grimaced.
“For all the good it did me, yes.” With a heavy heart, she shook her head. “I did not intend to speak with him. One moment I was standing talking with you and the next, I found myself beside him.”
“And what did you say?” Miss Fairley wanted to know. “What did you say to him?”
Rachael closed her eyes briefly, a little embarrassed.
“I wanted to know if he was going to be doing or saying anything which might be of aid to me, or if he was just going to be concerned with his own standing and nothing more. It was foolish to think that he might be willing to be of aid to me, given that we ought to be doing everything we can to convince thetonthat there is, and certainly never was, any connection between us.”
“But all the same, you were disappointed to hear him say that he cares only for his own situation?”
She nodded, choosing to tell the truth.
“I thought that, on hearing of my situation, he might be willing – nay, eager – to be of aid to me. I thought he mightbe sorrowful to hear how thetonhas treated me, even though I have done nothing of what was said and, thereafter, might champion my cause. He, given that he was the other one spoken of, could be best placed to defend me and since he can move about society in a way that I am not, I suppose that I hoped that he might be all the more willing.” Her eyes closed briefly. “There was no enthusiasm on his part whatsoever, no real interest or concern. As I have said, it was foolish to let myself hope for that but all the same…”
“All the same, you feel sorrowful over that, I understand.” Miss Fairley put a hand on Rachael’s arm in a gesture of comfort. “I would very much like to find words to encourage you at this point, but I fear that they would be of very little support to you. All I can say is that I am sorry.”
“He is coming over.”
Rachael turned to look at Lady Frederica, her brows furrowing.
“I beg your pardon?”
“Lord Blackmore.” Lady Frederica was speaking out of the side of her mouth though when she glanced at Rachael, her eyes were suddenly vivid, alive with either surprise or interest. “I do believe that he is making his way towards you!”
With a shake of her head, Rachael did not so much as glance across the ballroom, trying to ignore the knot in her throat.
“Why should he do such a thing as that?”
“Look!” Lady Frederica insisted, forcing Rachael to turn and finally lift her gaze to look in the direction that Lady Frederica was indicating with one hand. It did not take her long to spy Lord Blackmore and, much to her surprise, Lady Frederica appeared to be quite right. Hewasseemingly walking towards her, his gaze fixed on where she stood, and a determination etched across his expression.
She swallowed.
“What could he want with you?”
Miss Fairley came to stand beside Rachael, though she turned her head a little so that it did not appear as though the three of them were simply staring at the gentleman.
“I did see him speaking with some others,” Lady Frederica added, her smile growing, though Rachael’s did not so much as flicker across her face. “Mayhap something has been said and he wishes now to share it with you.”
“Mayhap.”
Swallowing quickly, Rachael took a deep breath and then blew it out slowly, feeling the quickening of her heart and aware of the nervousness that ran through her. Lord Blackmore was seemingly very determined indeed, though his progress towards her was slow, given the sheer number of guests whom he had to make his way through. His gaze, however, did not waver and, the nearer he came, the more nervous Rachael grew.
“Here he is!” Miss Fairley whispered though she turned around entirely thereafter, catching Lady Frederica’s hand and giving her a small tug so that they could walk a few steps away. “We shall only be a few steps away, Rachael.”
